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Annual Post-March Collapse

Annual Post-March Collapse

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PrivilegedPNE

Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
166
In the last 4 seasons our record after March has been shocking. Looking at wins-draws-losses, in March 2026 we are currently 0-0-3 (so far), but if we look at other seasons, in 2025 we went 1-5-7, 2024 we went 3-2-7 and 2023 we were 5-2-5 (more of an April collapse as we lost 4 of the last 5 games). This leaves us with a pathetic record of 9 wins, 9 draws and 22 losses in the last 4 seasons post-March, with the majority of those coming in 2023.

Why are we so consistently rubbish towards the end of the season. Is it mentality? Squad depth? Or something else.

Serious questions need to be asked before next season and by any potential new owners to identify the causes of this consistent failure.
 
PrivilegedPNE said:
In the last 4 seasons our record after March has been shocking. Looking at wins-draws-losses, in March 2026 we are currently 0-0-3 (so far), but if we look at other seasons, in 2025 we went 1-5-7, 2024 we went 3-2-7 and 2023 we were 5-2-5 (more of an April collapse as we lost 4 of the last 5 games). This leaves us with a pathetic record of 9 wins, 9 draws and 22 losses in the last 4 seasons post-March, with the majority of those coming in 2023.

Why are we so consistently rubbish towards the end of the season. Is it mentality? Squad depth? Or something else.

Serious questions need to be asked before next season and by any potential new owners to identify the causes of this consistent failure.
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because the players are on the beach knowing that most of them are on 400 year contracts, the management need to do just enough to stay up and the owners don't give a fuck as the jump racing season starts. Only people who care are the fans.
 
  • Limited squad depth
  • January Reinforcements are usually very limited compared to rival clubs
  • Loan Players potentially reigning it in a bit if they know there's little to play for.

The last point is pure speculation, but you do wonder if the loan players want to make sure they avoid injury etc if they know they are going back to their parent clubs or have moves elsewhere lined up.
 
Chelsea fans march off at half time, they are mere amateurs and like all other clubs in the football league cannot get near us in what we’ve had to suffer for over 60 years….utter shite really.
 
Lee Trundle said:
  • Limited squad depth
  • January Reinforcements are usually very limited compared to rival clubs
  • Loan Players potentially reigning it in a bit if they know there's little to play for.

The last point is pure speculation, but you do wonder if the loan players want to make sure they avoid injury etc if they know they are going back to their parent clubs or have moves elsewhere lined up.
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Last point is probably spot on for most players. Was listening to Boro v Bristol and the pro on comms said that it’s very common for players to stop putting in effort when there’s nothing to play for, especially if they have one eye on where they will be next season
 
Lee Trundle said:
  • Limited squad depth
  • January Reinforcements are usually very limited compared to rival clubs
  • Loan Players potentially reigning it in a bit if they know there's little to play for.

The last point is pure speculation, but you do wonder if the loan players want to make sure they avoid injury etc if they know they are going back to their parent clubs or have moves elsewhere lined up.
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  • Sub-par managers
 
PrivilegedPNE said:
In the last 4 seasons our record after March has been shocking. Looking at wins-draws-losses, in March 2026 we are currently 0-0-3 (so far), but if we look at other seasons, in 2025 we went 1-5-7, 2024 we went 3-2-7 and 2023 we were 5-2-5 (more of an April collapse as we lost 4 of the last 5 games). This leaves us with a pathetic record of 9 wins, 9 draws and 22 losses in the last 4 seasons post-March, with the majority of those coming in 2023.

Why are we so consistently rubbish towards the end of the season. Is it mentality? Squad depth? Or something else.

Serious questions need to be asked before next season and by any potential new owners to identify the causes of this consistent failure.
Click to expand...
If we don’t buck up in the last 8 games this season the duration of the slump will be 20 games.
 
OB1 said:
Last point is probably spot on for most players. Was listening to Boro v Bristol and the pro on comms said that it’s very common for players to stop putting in effort when there’s nothing to play for, especially if they have one eye on where they will be next season
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Riis is case in point for last season. 3 year contract, probably north of 20k on the table from Bristol City. It's potentially £3m he's leaving on the table if he gets injured in the run-in
 
Regardless said:
Maybe. Personally I think it’s better described as “Managers who aren’t miracle workers”
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This squad is better than 17th and 1 win in 13, while losing to Oxford & Blackburn. It's the best squad we've had since pre-Covid.

A bang average manager could have us pottering about mid-table and competing in games without any miracles.

Also, one of the best chances of top 6 since we got promoted, when you look who's currently up there.

Was Lowe getting us to 10th a miracle?
 
It seems to be happening a bit earlier this time around. Perhaps we can bring forward our usual fairly bright star to a new season to the back end of this one.
 
The flip side is why have we been starting the recent seasons so well given a mid table squad, a shoestring budget, disinterested owners and seemingly shit managers.
 
SF said:
This squad is better than 17th and 1 win in 13, while losing to Oxford & Blackburn. It's the best squad we've had since pre-Covid.

A bang average manager could have us pottering about mid-table and competing in games without any miracles.

Also, one of the best chances of top 6 since we got promoted, when you look who's currently up there.

Was Lowe getting us to 10th a miracle?
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I haven’t got a big argument against that. I do think a lot of things hit us in January. And because everything across the club is always right on the edge, it’s easy to get into a downward spiral.
Easy to say that a manager’s job is to stay focused and to motivate - but it’s a lot easier to do that when you have a deep squad, great training facilities and a pitch that you can rely on.
 
Aitch said:
Need to get 4 points from the next 2 games then it won't matter what we do in the last 6. They've been on the beach since Bristol City!
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Really enjoyed the trip to Ashton Gate, the decline since is even less acceptable than last seasons, over to you the owners of this well run club ! ……… Do something about it !
 
Lee Trundle said:
  • Limited squad depth
  • January Reinforcements are usually very limited compared to rival clubs
  • Loan Players potentially reigning it in a bit if they know there's little to play for.

The last point is pure speculation, but you do wonder if the loan players want to make sure they avoid injury etc if they know they are going back to their parent clubs or have moves elsewhere lined up.
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This is spot on for me , squad is paper thin but has some decent quality that we thrash to death to get results, what I think is different this season to last is the kick in the balls the squad got at start of January, open league , in fantastic position and just needed reinforcement in right areas to have a really good chance of achieving what looked impossible, however owners had other ideas, January window was just horrendous, squad that has given everything they could and more , no proper rotation playing 2 games a week at very competitive level, even if you bring in some squad filling experience, it would have been better than losing 4 ok options and replacing with 1 risk, 1 not match fit and 1 way out of depth, so now as well as knackered they are totally disenchanted and disengaged , in mean time every other club in the league strengthen, this is most obvious reason , nothing to do with takeovers or fall outs just very physically and mentally fatigued and pissed off to another level with this circus of a club.
 
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